Chaos and Redemption

Bibi Dong wasted no time. After summoning Yue Guan and Ghostly Shadow, she took Xuan Hao and left Spirit City. She had no intention of drawing on the Elder Hall's strength.

Although she had held the position of Pope for nearly six years, most of those old fossils in the Elder Hall were still watching from the sidelines.

That old immortal Qian Daoliu in the Worship Hall might not involve himself in affairs, but the old men under him, led by Golden Crocodile Douluo, were all waiting to see her make a fool of herself, even looking for a chance to claim a share of the spoils.

If word of this got out and Golden Crocodile Douluo, that Level 98 peak Douluo, decided to interfere under the pretext of "strengthening Spirit Hall's foundation," then whether those two Soul Rings and Soul Bones would ultimately end up in her hands would be another matter entirely.

Only Yue Guan and Ghostly Shadow—the two Titled Douluo ostracized by Qian Daoliu because of Qian Xunji's death years ago, forced to cling desperately to her—were the only right-hand men she could fully trust.

Star Dou Great Forest.

Four figures streaked across the sky like meteors.

Under Yue Guan's guidance, they passed straight through the outer regions and ventured deep into the heart of the Mixed Zone, eventually landing beside that quiet pool.

"Your Excellency, this is the place."

Yue Guan pointed at the traces on the ground. Though they had been dealt with, faint clues could still be seen. "The trail went cold here."

Bibi Dong said nothing. A dark green radiance surged around her as six chilling black ten-thousand-year Soul Rings slowly rose.

"Third Spirit Skill, Demon Spider Summon!"

In an instant, a sinister and terrifying aura spread outward from her.

The ground seemed to turn into a swamp of death, rippling with layers of dark green light.

"Hisss—"

A scalp-numbing scraping sound rang out as dark green Poison Spiders, each with bodies half a meter wide, crawled out from underground.

They were densely packed, covering the ground within a hundred-meter radius in an instant.

This was a domain-type spirit skill of Bibi Dong's Soul Devouring Spider Emperor. Its offensive power was average, but for scouting and searching, it was an absolute godsend.

These Demon Spiders, condensed from deathly energy, could lock onto life auras and particular scents with abilities practically comparable to radar.

"Go. Find them for me!"

With a thought from Bibi Dong, countless Demon Spiders scattered in all directions like a green tide, burrowing into the bushes, crawling up treetops, and even diving underground.

Only the time it took to burn an incense stick later—

Bibi Dong's previously indifferent expression abruptly changed. "Found them."

She suddenly looked toward the southwest. "They didn't continue deeper into the Core Zone. They're moving toward the outer regions instead? Are they trying to do the opposite and hide in plain sight?"

"Heaven truly favors me!"

A sharp gleam burst from Bibi Dong's eyes. "Yue Guan, Ghostly Shadow! Flank them from both sides and cut off their path back to the Core Zone! Even if we have to alert those two Forest Kings, nail them down in the outer regions!"

"Yes, Your Excellency!"

Yue Guan and Ghostly Shadow exchanged a glance. Their figures instantly turned into two streaks of light, one gold and one black, vanishing into the depths of the forest.

Just as Bibi Dong was about to move, she felt someone tug at her sleeve.

She lowered her head and looked at Xuan Hao, who had remained silent all this time.

"Elder Sister..."

Xuan Hao looked up at her. "Could you... let me go over first?"

"What do you want?" Bibi Dong frowned.

"I want to... say a few words to her first." Xuan Hao bit his lip. "After all, she saved my life. I want to... try to persuade her. If we don't have to fight, then could we..."

"Childish." Bibi Dong coldly interrupted him. "Soul Beasts and Soul Masters are natural enemies. It's kill or be killed. She's a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, a treasure from head to toe. Do you think I'll let her go? Or do you think she'll obediently surrender?"

"But..." Xuan Hao clutched her sleeve tightly, refusing to let go. "Just a few words! I'll leave as soon as I'm done! Please, Elder Sister!"

Bibi Dong looked at him, on the verge of tears, and inexplicably felt irritated. Yet in the end, she still could not bring herself to harden her heart.

In any case, the situation was already decided. Three Titled Douluo had laid down a net from which neither of those two Shapeshifting Soul Beasts could escape.

Even if Xuan Hao went to warn them and gave them a few hundred meters' head start, what could it change?

Before absolute strength, that distance could be crossed in the blink of an eye.

Besides, with Yue Guan and Ghostly Shadow's Martial Soul Fusion Skill, she had no fear of them trying to take hostages.

"Half an incense stick." Bibi Dong spoke flatly. "I'll give you only half an incense stick's time. Come back the moment you're done. Don't get in my way."

"Thank you, Elder Sister!"

Xuan Hao released her sleeve. Without the slightest hesitation, he turned and sprinted toward the direction detected by Bibi Dong's Demon Spiders.

Deep within the forest.

Ah Rou held Xiao Wu in her arms, carefully using the terrain for cover as she stealthily made her way toward the forest's outskirts.

The Core Zone was safe, but if they were blocked inside by Titled Douluo, Da Ming and Er Ming would have to face the combined assault of several Titled Douluo. That was far too dangerous.

That was why she intended to do the opposite. While those humans assumed she would flee deeper into the forest, she would quietly return to the Mixed Zone, escape the forest, and blend into the human world.

Once she disappeared into the vast sea of people, that aura would be completely concealed.

Suddenly, the bushes ahead rustled.

Ah Rou's expression changed drastically. She instantly took a defensive stance, Soul Power surging as she prepared to fight for her life at any moment.

"Don't attack! It's me!"

A familiar yet youthful voice rang out.

Immediately afterward, the silver-haired youth she had once rescued by the lake, only for him to leave resolutely afterward, crawled out of the bushes, panting heavily.

"You?!"

Ah Rou stared at Xuan Hao, who stood in her way, her eyes filled with astonishment. "Why did you come back? Weren't you..."

"You can't escape." Xuan Hao quickly explained as he looked at the wary mother and daughter before him.

"Further ahead is the Pope of Spirit Hall, and the Two Elders, both Titled Douluo, have already taken a detour to cut off your path back to the Core Zone. Moreover, those Two Elders possess a Martial Soul Fusion Skill called the Two Poles Stillness Domain. Once it is unleashed, it can immobilize even a soul beast at the level of the Titan Giant Ape, let alone you two."

"So taking me hostage won't work either."

Ah Rou's face turned pale. "Then why have you come here...?"

"I can't save both of you," Xuan Hao said.

"But you saved me. Now, I have a way. If it's done properly... at least one person can be saved."

Ah Rou's pupils contracted sharply. "How?"

Xuan Hao did not waste words, nor did he have time to explain.

He suddenly took a step back, golden light erupting from his entire body in a completely unrestrained burst!

"Roaaar—!!"

With an impassioned Dragon Roar, dazzling golden light instantly illuminated the dim forest. Two Soul Rings rose beneath Xuan Hao's feet, especially the second, a deep-purple thousand-year Soul Ring that now blazed with piercing radiance.

Xuan Hao took a deep breath and unleashed the most provocative roar he could currently muster toward the Dead Silence of the ten-thousand-year soul beast gathering grounds around him!

"Roaaar—Raaah!!!"

A terrifying Sound Wave, mixed with intensely provocative Dragon Might, instantly spread for several miles in every direction.

Ten-thousand-year soul beasts had an extremely strong sense of territory, and this area in particular was home to quite a few ill-tempered behemoths.

Suddenly provoked so brazenly by an aura that did not know its own limits, these already savage ten-thousand-year soul beasts instantly exploded into fury.

"Roar—!"

"Awooo—!"

In an instant, enraged roars rose and fell throughout the surrounding forest.

The ground began to tremble. More than a dozen powerful auras surged into the sky. Even under the pressure of Titled Douluo, these ten-thousand-year soul beasts would fall into a brief frenzy after being provoked.

Chaos descended in an instant.

"You..."

Seeing the agitated forest around her, Ah Rou instantly understood Xuan Hao's intent.

Create chaos and fish in troubled waters!

Amid this chaos, Xiao Wu, whose aura was weak and deliberately concealed, was the only one who might have a chance of escaping alive!

"Xiao Wu, listen to Mommy."

Ah Rou suddenly turned around, tears in her eyes, and shoved the dazed Xiao Wu toward a dense thicket nearby. It was a hidden passage leading toward the inner region. "Hold your breath. Use the method Mommy taught you and conceal your aura with all your strength. Hide in the tree hollow over there! No matter what happens outside, no matter what you hear, you must never come out! And don't look back!"

"Mom! I won't—"

"Listen to me!!"

Ah Rou shoved Xiao Wu again. A gentle force of Soul Power sent Xiao Wu directly into a concealed tree hollow dozens of meters away. Then, with a flick of her finger, several thick pieces of bark and vines instantly sealed the entrance.

Once she had done all this, the tenderness in Ah Rou's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a resolve that embraced death.

She suddenly turned around, her Soul Power erupting in full force. She even deliberately pushed the source aura of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast to its absolute limit!

Then she grabbed Xuan Hao by the throat and held him up in front of her.

"Forgive me!"

Holding Xuan Hao, Ah Rou did not flee toward the Core Zone, nor did she run toward the outskirts. Instead, she charged at full speed to the side, toward the direction where the disturbed ten-thousand-year soul beasts were most densely gathered—and farther from Bibi Dong!

"Humans! You want my Soul Ring? Then come and take it!!"

Ah Rou let out a shrill, mournful howl that pierced through the entire forest.

Pinned beneath Ah Rou's arm, Xuan Hao felt the howling wind by his ears and the resolute sorrow radiating from her. His heart was filled with mixed emotions.

He did not resist. He merely closed his eyes.

This was all he could do.

As for the rest...

That depended on which side this damned fate chose to stand.